Canals

Many Dutch cities were built around canals. Alkmaar Utrecht, Dordrecht, Leiden, Groningen, Leeuwarden and Amersfoort are cities with cityscapes that are characterised by graceful canals. Of course, Amsterdam has the best-known canals. The Amsterdam Canal District is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the city has even been nicknamed the “Venice of the North”. Discover Holland from a different perspective and take a cruise through the canals.

From necessity to recreational playground

The canals were constructed in the 17th century to enable development of new neighbourhoods surrounding the city centre. The canals were used for water management, transportation and defense purposes. Nowadays, the canals are mainly used for recreational activities. Motor boats, canal tour boats, pedal boats and canoes sail through the canals year round, and you can even skate through the city centre during those severe winters when the canals freeze over.